Two years ago, Savannah native Nolan Smith heard his name called with the 30th overall pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
A former Calvary Day Cavalier and University of Georgia Bulldog, Smith became a Philadelphia Eagle and, as of February 2025, a Super Bowl champion.
One year ago, Philadelphia selected Savannah’s Dylan McMahon in the sixth round (190th overall) of the 2024 draft. The former star offensive lineman at Savannah Christian and North Carolina State wasn’t an Eagle for long, as he was signed off the team’s practice squad by the Rams last September and now plays for Los Angeles.
The 2024 draft also included UGA cornerback Kamari Lassiter, a Savannah native who played high school football in Alabama, going to the Houston Texans in the second round (42nd overall).
The NFL’s new draft class will be picked over seven rounds on Thursday through Saturday in Green Bay, Wis. There could be more football players with connections to the Greater Savannah area who hear their names called, and others could get calls from NFL teams in the frenzy for undrafted free agents in the hours and days that follow.
To help with sampling the NFL draft candidates, there are guides and lists with scouting reports, statistics, background information, and projections after the 2024 season, the NFL Scouting Combine and colleges’ pro days are completed.
As choice reference material, consider The Athletic’s “The Beast,” Dane Brugler’s 2025 NFL Draft Guide, which states its annual goal as creating the most comprehensive and detailed guide available. It includes more than 400 player profiles and rankings for nearly 2,700 prospects.
Here are rankings in “The Beast” for Savannah-area players in the 2025 draft:
WARREN BRINSON, ranked No. 28 for defensive tackles
Height/weight: 6-foot-5½, 315 pounds at NFL combine
Grade: sixth-round pick
The former Savannah Christian student played his junior and senior years at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., before returning to his native Georgia to play for UGA from 2020-24.
He recorded 71 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and six sacks in 59 games (eight starts). Brinson participated in the East-West Shrine Bowl as well as both the NFL Combine and Georgia’s Pro Day.
The Beast’s overview:
“A part-time starter at Georgia, Brinson played across the defensive line in head coach Kirby Smart’s hybrid fronts, lining up at the 4i-technique, sliding down to the nose in bear looks and aligning everywhere in between. His defensive snap count increased each of his five seasons in Athens, and he put steady play on tape — despite a stat sheet that won’t draw the eye.
“Brinson is fairly stout against the run and works to keep his arms locked out to find the ball and create stuffs. He has explosive moments when he is given the freedom to pursue the pocket, but he’ll need to be better with his hands and overall rush plan to get NFL blockers off balance. Overall, Brinson flashes NFL-level play with his ability to get off blocks and force his way through gaps, but excitement over his talent needs to be tempered by his sporadic impact. He offers intriguing tools in an NFL-ready body.”
ANTARIO BROWN, No. 31 running back
Height/weight: 5-10, 214 at pro day
Grade: Free-agent signing
The former Beach High School star earned national attention in 2024 when his Northern Illinois squad shocked No. 5 Notre Dame 16-14 on Sept. 7 in South Bend, Ind. Brown had 225 yards from scrimmage – 20 carries for 99 yards, two receptions for 126 yards including an 83-yard touchdown.
Unfortunately for Brown, injuries limited him to eight games and 115 carries for 567 yards and four TDs. He has missed most of the draft process after establishing himself among NIU’s all-time great rushers and an All-MAC honoree.
He started 23 of 40 games from 2021-24 and rushed 518 times for 3,090 yards and 26 TDs, as well as 21 receptions for 263 yards and two TDs.
The Beast’s overview:
“A two-year starter at Northern Illinois, Brown was the lead back in former offensive coordinator Wesley Beschorner’s balanced run scheme, plus occasionally lined up in the slot. He put himself on the NFL radar by rushing for nearly 1,300 yards as a junior and was on his way to eclipsing that number as a senior (including a memorable performance in an upset of Notre Dame) before injuries slowed, then prematurely ended his 2024 season.
“Using his compact power and physicality, Brown runs with natural leverage and contact balance to work his way through the weeds. Though he has some shake, he isn’t overly dynamic and must fix his fumbling issues to stay on the field at the next level. Overall, Brown doesn’t have any special athletic traits, but he runs with patience and attitude and is a viable threat in the passing game. If healthy, he has enough talent to compete for an NFL roster spot.”
SAM BROWN JR., No. 39 wide receiver
Height/weight: 6-2 200 at NFL scouting combine
Grade: Free-agent signing
A force on both sides of the football and a three-sport standout at New Hampstead High School, Brown played last season as a fifth-year redshirt junior at Miami after stops at West Virginia and Houston.
Brown started nine of 12 games for the Hurricanes and made 36 receptions for 509 yards and two TDs. In 44 games (28 starts) at West Virginia (2020-21), Houston (2022-23), and Miami, he totaled 149 receptions for 1,903 yards and nine TDs.
An All-Big 12 honorable mention in 2023 when he led Houston in receiving (62 receptions for 815 yards and three TDs), Brown played in the East-West Shrine Bowl at the end of last season.
The Beast’s overview:
“A one-year starter at Miami, Brown was an outside receiver (primarily to the left of the formation) in offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson’s RPO-based version of the Air Raid (91.1 percent of his college snaps came out wide). After stints at West Virginia and Houston, he joined the Hurricanes for his final season and flashed his talent, although he wasn’t able to fully realize his potential (he finished fifth on the team in receiving).
“Brown has the speed and stride manipulation to be a field-stretching weapon and the electric potential to force missed tackles in open space. He has adequate tracking skills, although his play strength mid-route and at the catch point is a concern (more drops than touchdown catches in college). Overall, Brown doesn’t play with confidence running the full route tree, but he is straight-line explosive with the acceleration to separate vertically or horizontally. He has a promising yet unseasoned skill set, reminiscent of a Dyami Brown-type of target.”
WINSTON WRIGHT JR., No. 98 wide receiver
Height/weight: 5-9, 182 at pro day
Grade: Free-agent signing
The speedy Wright played his final college season in 2024 and made the most of his lone campaign at East Carolina, earning second-team All-America honors as a kick returner from the Football Writers Association of America, among numerous national accolades.
Wright recorded 1,255 all-purpose yards (114.1 per game) in 11 games, including 556 receiving yards on 54 catches for eight touchdowns. He returned 22 kickoffs for 590 yards and one TD, six punts for 18 yards, and rushed 13 times for 91 yards.
A star at Memorial Day in Savannah, helping the team win two state crowns, Wright was a three-year letterman at West Virginia (2019-21), including All-Big 12 Conference honors in 2020. He transferred to Florida State, missed the 2022 season due to injury, and played in five games in 2023.
JAKEEN HARRIS, No. 158 safety
Height/weight: 5-10, 199 at pro day
Grade: Free-agent signing
The former Benedictine star played from 2019-23 at N.C. State before transferring in 2024 as a graduate student to North Carolina, where he tallied 68 tackles, one tackle for loss, and four passes defended.
Harris played in 45 games at N.C. State, making 153 tackles, four tackles for loss, four interceptions, and 11 passes defended. He sustained a season-ending injury in the second game of the 2023 season.
DAYLAN DOTSON, No. 210 edge rusher
Height/weight: 6-1, 256 at pro day
Grade: Free-agent signing
The former Jenkins High star was an FCS All-American in 2023 at UT Martin, where he played from 2020-24. He transferred to the University of Central Florida as a redshirt senior defensive tackle and recorded 31 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, and one forced fumble in 12 games.
For his career, Dotson had 138 tackles, 46.5 tackles for loss, 20.5 sacks, and six forced fumbles in 51 games (25 starts).
ERIC HICKS JR., No. 229 defensive tackle
Height/weight: 6-2 288 at pro day
Grade: Free-agent signing
The former Benedictine standout started 13 of 14 games last season at Tulane, totaling 28 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. In parts of six seasons (2019-24), he played in 67 games and totaled 106 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.
Gavin Stewart., Kicker
Height/weight: 5-11, 180 at pro day
Grade: Free-agent signing
The former Benedictine standout handled all placekicking and kickoff duties for Georgia Southern in 13 games this season. Stewart made 15 of 18 field goals, including seven from 40+ yards, with a career-long 53-yarder at Georgia State. He went 39-for-39 on PATs and recorded 36 touchbacks on 68 kickoffs. His top performance came at Coastal Carolina, connecting on four field goals, two PATs, and five touchbacks.
Photo Credits: Respective Players College Atheltic Department Football Websites
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